Sign for displaying house numbers



A ril 28, 1953 5. w. SUCKLE 3 I SIGN FOR DISPLAYING HOUSE NUMBERS Filed Nov. 12, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR.

fienja/m'n M /e BY W ATTORNEY. I

April 8, 1953 B. w. SUCKLE 2,636,300

sIdN FOR DISPLAYING HOUSE NUMBERS Filed Nov. 12, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 -k WE Fig. 17 I INVENTOR. Fig 15 F fienjaminl L 50 k/e ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 28, 1953 I 2,636,300 SIGN FOB DISPLAYING HOUSE NUMBERS Benjamin-W. Suckle, Philadelphia, Pa. Application November 12, 1947, Serial No. 785,235 1 Claim." (01. 40-140 My invention relates generally to signs, and

relates particularly to a sign for displaying-the number'of a house or building.

The signs which hitherto have been manufactured and sold for the purpose have been characterized by poor legibility, and have employed glass in their construction, which is subject to breakage and to obscurity by condensation. In addition, the method of assembling the particular numbers required to the sign is frequently beyond the ability of the average householder. The -cost of manufacturing the prior art numerals or letters has been relatively high.

It, therefore, is an object of my invention to provide a number display sign which may be read easily dayor night, and which does not employ any glass in its make-up.

Another object of my invention is to provide an interchangeable number display sign which is extremely rugged, and which may be put to-. gether by the average person, using only a screwdriver.

Another object of my invention is to provide a number display sign which may be planted in the earth, or which also may be mounted on a flat surface, such as a wall.

Another object of my invention is to provide a number display sign in which all of the numbers are held rigid and neatly aligned at all times.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sign wherein the parts are readily punched or stamped so that they may be readily assembled by a person who does not particularly possess mechanical skill.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eificient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a sign embodying my invention adapted for planting into the earth.

Fig. 2 is a top view of my invention which is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevation of my invention which is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of my invention, as viewed along the lines 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section view taken along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 66 of Fig. 3 (the ground stake being omitted for clarity).

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the ground stake.

Fig. 8 is a top view of the ground stake shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the sign, as adapted for mounting upon a wall or other flat surface.

Fig. 10 is an end view of my sign shown mounted against a flat surface.

Fig. 11 is a front view of the auxiliary wallmounting strap used to support the number display sign upon a flat surface.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary top view showing the wall-mounting strap together with a portion of the number-carrying frame, attached to a flatv surface.

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along the lines l3|3 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary detail view taken along the lines ltl4 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is a front view of a numeral which is used in my invention.

Fig. 16 is an end View of the numeral shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken along the lines Ill'| of Fig. 15.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts, I show a number display sign adapted to be planted into the earth, or in modified form to be fastened to a wall or a porch post.

The sign adapted for planting in the earth consists of a number carrying frame, or carrier, generally designated as A, a plurality of numbers to be supported thereon, each designated generally as B, and a ground stake, generally designated as C. In the modification of my invention which is adapted to be fastened .to a flat surface the ground stake C is replaced by a wall-mounting strap, generally designated as D, but the remainder of the sign, namely, the carrier and the numbers, is identical.

The carrier A, seen best in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 preferably made of heavy gauge metal bent upon itself, and consists of a front apron l0 and a rear wall I2 spaced from and parallel to the apron H]. A narrow vertically extending slot [4 is located in the bend [6 adjacent to the rear wall, and it is through this slot that the lower portions of each of the numerals B project.

A second horizontally-extending slot 18 of approximately the same length as slot I4 is located on the rear wall "l2, and extends parallel to the upper bend it. This slot i8 is used in the alignment and securing of the numeralsB, as will be described presently.

A screw bolt-receiving hole adapted to receive a bolt 36 (Fig. 9) is provided in the apron I mediately of the ends thereof, and an additional lug-receiving hole 22 is located on each side of the bolt-receiving hole. The numerals B, illustrated most clearly in Figs. 15, 16, and l? are stamped" fromheavy gauge sheet metal, and have a vertical portion 2:1 depending from the" base of the letter, which vertical portion is not visible when the letter has been assembled to the carrier A. A bolt hole atisrpunchedrin the center of the vertical portion 2 3 and a nut 25 is welded or otherwise attached tothe front surface thereof so that the threaded. hole oilthe' nut registers with the punched hole 25; The edges of the vertical portion 24 on either side of the nut 2% are struck rearwardly to form lugs 28; In theassembled sign, the lugs 28 fltinside the slot 18 of the carrier, so as-tomaintain the letters in rigid vertical alignment. A single screw bolt 29' is used to' secure each number to the carrier A. As shown in Figs; 3', and thescrewbolts are inserted from the rear of the carrier A, and pass through the slot i8 and-the holes of their respective numbers beioreengagingthe threaded nuts 29.

The carrier and numbers are supported'by either the ground stake C or the wall strap D. As shown in'Figs. 1,4, 7, and 8, the ground stake is a long pieceof metal pointed at one end 30' and formed preferably of heavy gauge sheet metal. The stake is indented longitudinally along its middle, and the edges thereof are flanged to the: rear to increase the rigidity of, the stake. A bolt-receiving hole is punched inptlie stake near its; top',,andt axnutv 32; is welded over the hole on the rear surface; Lugs 33 are; formediuponth'e top, or'blunt endiof the stake by indenting the top edge towardthe front.

The carrier is assembled to the ground stake by a single screw 3t, which passes through the" hole 253 inthe apron of the carrier and engages the nut 32. The lugs 3t engage the holes 22" in the: apron and serve to align' the carrier at right angles to the ground stake.

The ground stake is'inserted into the earth by hand, notools being necessary'with the pointed" end 30.

Forrmounting; on a. flat surfacerthe'strapD is. used. The strap; as shown in Figs. 11, 12,.and'. 13, has. at body portion tfixwhich isv offsetiorwa'rdly from its end's lti. Thei.body.-"38 .is'i pro vided with. acentral boltchole 32,. and a:.nut...t irv istwelded .to. therear; surface :of the may: withiits threaded holeregisteringwith theboltih'ole. In addition, a pair. of lugs 86 are struck forwardly from the top edge. of the strap. The. ends of the strap are each provided with a hole through which the wall-mounting screws 48 pass.

To mount the number display sign upon a wall, the strap is fastened to the wall by screws 48 passing through the holes in its ends, and the carrier is then fastened to the strap by the single bolt 86 which engages the strap nut 44 through the apron hole. The strap lugs 46 cooperate with the lug, holes 22 in the carrier apron to support the carrier 'in rigid alignment.-

The carrier A, the numerals B} stake C, and the wall strap D are all stamped from a heavy gauge sheet metal which has been coated with enamel-of a dark :color. When the sign is placed upon a light background, or if it is illuminated byaligh'tfrom the rear, the letters appear in sharp outline and'contrast, and is very readable.

Since the various components of the sign have their securing nuts permanently welded thereto the sign is easily assembled, and has a neat workmanlike appearance-when completed.

The material of which the parts embodyingmy invention may be. made may be'iron, steelt. aluminum, copper, or a phenolic condensation roduct.

Although myinvention has been described inconsiderable detail, such description is intended: as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and

- the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

A sign comprising a carrier of stamped metal having a pair of spaced edges defining a horizontally extending slot therein and a vertically References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 506,835" Tabbert Oct. 117, 1893* 1,271,80 Thunell July. 9 I9 18 1,679,079.. Gstalder July 31, 1928 1,861,599- Gstalder s J unefl ,1932; 1,990,833. Maughlin no. Feb. 12:. 1935 $166,835 Yancey -.Ji1ly 18,1939 2,520,648 Newman -Aug..- 2'9,.1950" 

